Maggots dropped on breakfast bar by ‘multiple unknown female offenders’ at Chicago hotel hosting DNC delegates sparks FBI probe
The Chicago Police Department and FBI are investigating how multiple alleged offenders were able to enter a hotel in the Windy City hosting delegates for the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday and place maggots on tables set out for breakfast.
A delegate for Indiana and retired state senator who was at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago when the incident took place told USA Today she was “coming down to breakfast” when she saw that “there were these two women who had hidden themselves in the bathroom.”
“And they ran out and threw maggots into the breakfast buffet,” said Karen Tallian.
Chicago ABC affiliate WLS reported the disturbance at the hotel and confirmed with the Fairmont Chicago Hotel that a probe was underway.
The Democratic National Convention Joint Information Center released a statement on Wednesday saying “multiple unknown female offenders are alleged to have entered a building at the 200 block of N Columbus Drive on August 21, 2024, at approximately 5:45am and began placing unknown objects onto tables containing food.”
“The offenders are believed to have then left the area,” the statement continued. “One victim was treated and released on-scene.”
The DNC statement added that the FBI Chicago office is assisting Chicago police with the investigation.
One witness suggested to USA Today that they saw crickets placed on the table, so it is unclear if it was only crickets or maggots, or a combination of both.
Whether anyone ate food contaminated with the bugs is unclear, but Chicago police told WLS one individual was treated on the scene and then released.
Indiana delegate Bryan Lilienkamp told ABC that hotel staff cleared out the breakfast tables and brought out new food after.
“We can confirm that a group of individuals caused a disruption at a DNC-related breakfast event at our hotel this morning. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement. The safety, security, and well-being of our guests and staff are our top priorities,” a Fairmont Chicago spokesperson said.
A request for an update on the investigation made to the FBI was not immediately returned to Law&Crime on Thursday.
No arrests have been made at this time.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Fairmont Chicago Hotel spokesperson Hayley Robles said the entire breakfast area was also sanitized.
